Identification/surveillance device with removable tack button

Abstract

An identification/surveillance device including a tag portion and a tack. The tack includes a button and a pin having a dull end and a sharp end. The identification/surveillance device is secured to an article to be identified/surveilled by inserting the pin through the article and engaging the pin with the tag portion. The dull end of the pin is releasably engaged with either the button or the tag portion such that when the identification/surveillance device is removed from the article the sharp end of the pin remains engaged with either the tag portion or the button and only the dull end of the pin is exposed.

1. An identification/surveillance device for an article comprising:
 a tags, said tag having a detectable device located therein; 
 a tack; 
 a pin comprising a first end and a second end, said first end being sharper than said second end, said tack and said tag each capable of being joined to one another by said pin; and 
 a clutch mechanism located within either said tag or said tack for releasably engaging said second end of said pin, wherein one of said tag or said tack further comprises another clutch mechanism adapted to non-releasably engage with said first end of said pin. 
 
     
     
       2. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said clutch mechanisms comprises a magnetically disengageable clutch. 
     
     
       3. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said clutch mechanisms comprises at least one ball bearing configured to engage an associated feature on said pin. 
     
     
       4. A device according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least one of said clutch mechanisms comprises a spring biasing said at least one ball bearing toward an engaged configuration. 
     
     
       5. A device according to  claim 4 , wherein said spring acts through a plunger to bias said at least one ball bearing toward an engaged configuration. 
     
     
       6. A device according to  claim 5 , wherein said plunger comprises a ferrous body. 
     
     
       7. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said clutch mechanisms comprises a locking member and a resiliently deformable member biasing said locking member toward a locked configuration. 
     
     
       8. A device according to  claim 7 , wherein said locking member comprises a ferrous member. 
     
     
       9. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said tag or said tack comprises an EAS device. 
     
     
       10. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said tag or said tack comprises an RFID device. 
     
     
       11. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said tag or said tack comprises a marking device. 
     
     
       12. A device according to  claim 1  wherein the second end of the pin has a flat end surface. 
     
     
       13. A device according to  claim 1  wherein the first end of the pin is tapered. 
     
     
       14. A device according to  claim 1  wherein said
 tack comprises a button and said second end of said pin is releasably engaged to said button by means of said clutch mechanism located within said button. 
 
     
     
       15. A method of identifying/surveilling an article comprising:
 providing a pin having a first end and a second end, said first end being sharper than a second end of said pin; 
 providing a button having a first clutch mechanism disposed therein for releasably engaging said second end of said pin; 
 providing a tag having a second clutch mechanism disposed therein for releasably engaging said first end of said pin; 
 engaging said second end of said pin with said first clutch mechanism located in said button to form a tack; 
 inserting said first end of said pin through said article; and engaging said first end of said pin with said first clutch mechanism located in said tag. 
 
     
     
       16. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said clutch mechanism is a clamp configured to capture said first end of said pin. 
     
     
       17. A device according to  claim 16 , wherein said clamp comprises a member defining an elastically expandable opening sized to non-releasably engage a radial groove in said pin.